Shawnalee (Shawni) Eyre Pothier was the second of nine children in a family rich in tradition. She grew up traveling the world with them, living in England, Mexico, Utah, Japan and the Philippines in her formative years. Shawni attended Boston University for her freshman year, followed by study abroad in Jerusalem. After serving a mission for her church in Romania, she returned to complete her degree in Social Work. Shawni married David Stuart Pothier in 1995 and they have five children. She strives to promote joy in the journey of Motherhood on her blog, 71 Toes. Shawni enjoys speaking at Time Out for Women and recently published her first book, A Mother's Book of Secrets.